Summary
On April 30, 1995 Elli Friedmann returns to Germany- fifty years later. She was in Seeshaupt that very day fifty years ago when the American army had liberated me. Some of the leading people in Seeshaupt had decided to commemorate the event. The former mayor's son saw the human sufferering of the jews, corpus' disfigured. He is now a doctor, and when his patients, people of the post-war generation, dont believe what he says he saw he decided to bring back survivors of the liberation as proof to show that what he says really did happen. Eighteen survivors arrived for the ceremony. The survivors who had returned to Seeshaupt thought of the liberation. Ellie slipps out of the hall and goes to the train station she walks to the tracks thinking about what she went through. Then a women interrupts her train of thought, " There are no more trains today" she said but, Ellie wasn't waiting for a train she just wanted to go back. She walks back to the beer hall, one of the committee members asks Ellie what message do you have for us? Ellie was only 14 when the war ended. Her message is clearly this: Never Give Up.
Vocabulary
post-war: happening or existing after a war
translucent: permitting light to pass through but diffusing it so that persons, objects, etc. are not visible on the other side.
opaque: not transparent or translucent
maimed: to deprive of the use of some body part by wounding
indelible: making marks that cannot be erased or removed
4/4/11
Entry #2
Pages covered: 12-21
Chapter: The City of My Dreams
Somorja, Summer1943- March 1944
Summary
Elli's dream is going to a prep school in Budapest, the capital city. In her small farming town, at the edge of th Carpathian foothills. To the west the rolling hills
in the south the Danube River. People come to the Danube to cool off, picnic by it, even the soldiers come to cool off in the Danube. Elli's friend Bonnie's mother wraps her in her arms and always says, " meine Schonheit," which means my beauty. Elli's mother never shows her affection, she believes that cuddling makes you soft and she thinks if you cuddle if doesn't prepare you for life's difficulties. Her mother favors her sister and brother. . Her brother, Bumbi, already goes to school in Budapest. February 28 is Elli's birthday. She immediately writes an application for the Jewish Preparatory School in Budapest. At 2:30 in the morning a knock comes from the door. The Hungarian police are back, the search for concealed weapons. They take what ever they want. Then later Bumbi shows up, he came home with horrible and terrifying news. The Nazi's invaded Budapest. Her father tells him that it must have been a rally they couldn't have invaded with no writing in the paper or information on the radio. He convinces Bumbi to get on the 1 P.M. train and go back to Budapest. He leaves then when her father looks at the paper it reads WE ARE LIBERATED! HITLERS GLORIOUS ARMY IS IN BUDAPEST! News says that they arrested jews in Budapest. Then her father cannot stand waiting to hear from Bumbi he gets the idea to go to Budapest to get Bumbi. But before he leaves Bumbi arrives in the middle of the night. Budapest, the city of her dreams, has now become the anteroom of Auschwitz.
Vocabulary
1. metropolis- any large, busy city
2. Sabboth- the seventh day of the week, Saturday, the day of rest and religious observance among Jews and some Christian
3. summons- an authoritativecommand, message, or signal by which oneissummoned. 4. razzias- a plundering raid 5. tremor- involuntary shaking of the body or limbs, from disease, fear, weakness, or excitement; a fit of trembling
4/5/11 Entry #3 pages covered:22-24 Chpt: "Hey, Jew Girl, Jew Girl..."
Summary
Elli's school closes on Saturday, March 25th, 1944. Six days have passed since the Germans invaded. She asks herself, "will I ever again sit behind this narrow dest furrowed by a thousand pencil marks? will i ever again share secrets and moments of hilarity with my classmates?" Elli has a crush on a boy named Jancsi Novak. She goes out the main entrance because he maybe leaving too. As she turns the hallway and arm reaches out and blocks her way. It wasnt Novak is was an ugly boy who raises his arm in the Nazi salute and says: "Heil Hitler!" Then a bunch of other boys join in chanting Heil Hitler. Elli runs down the hall way and they chant at her Down with the Jews! down with the Jews! Down with the Jews!! She goes down the stairs and out to the street, behind, her school mates yell the army marching song. THis hits Elli hard and she cries and cries.
Vocabulary 1. furrowed- a narrow groovelike or trenchlike depression in any surface. 2. convulsive- to shake or agitate violently
4/6/11 Entry #4 pages covered: 25-28 Chpt: The Tale of the Yellow Bicycle
Summary Elli and her family are now in the hands of the SS. They begin the process of "liquidation." On a Monday morning in March, all Jews are supposed to appear at the town hall to be registered. They line up to be counted and given tags. They are forced to give up all their valuables- jewelry, radios, and vehicles. Elli has to give away her birthday gift from her parents; a yellow Schwinn bicycle. Her bike is her only real possession. It is bright yellow, with red and yellow webbing on the back wheel. It has a dark-yellow leather seat and shiny handlebars. As Elli has to give up her bike she breaks down, she doesn't want to part with it!! she feels violated. She cries all the way home. Her father brings her down to the cellar to show her a spot he secretly placed their most precious possessions. "We dont know which one of us will return, Will you remember this spot?" he says to her. She doesn't look. she wants her family to stay together!!
Vocabulary 1. erect- upright in position or posture 2. lackluster- lacking brilliance or radiance 3. degradation-act of degrading 4. convulsive-spasms
4/6/11 Entry #5 pages covered: 29-36 Chpt: The Tale of the Yellow Star
Summary The street crier wakes Elli up. Lately he has only brought bad news to them. This morning she heard, " Hear ye! Hear ye! As of 8 a.m. this Tuesday morning all of the Jews must wear a yellow star on the left side of their chest. The star must be of canary-yellow fabric, eight centimeters in diameter, with exactly six points. If a Jew is spotted without this star will be arrested! Also any main entrance into a Jewish residents will have a six-pointed star painted on the left wall. If residence does not have this mark the people who own this place will be arrested! Elli's brother acts as if the star he has to wear is some sort of medal. Soon other young boys act like this. Elli feels this is a way to humiliate the Jews. Then Elli gets a letter in the mail, its her diploma. There will be a class graduation and reunion. Shes thrilled. Then she remembers the boys, their chanting. She hangs her coat back on. Her brother calls her a coward. She decides to go anyways. She takes her coat off right when she enters her school. After the diplomas are handed out as Elli is walking out she gets touched by some one, its Jancsi Novak. He acts like he didnt even see the star on her coat. They have a conversation congratulating each other.
Vocabulary 1. visage-the face, usually with reference to shape, features, expression, etc. 2.muslin-a cottonfabric made in various degrees of fineness and often printed,woven, or embroidered in patterns, especially a cottonfabric of plainweave, used for sheets and for a variety of otherpurposes.
3. valiant- boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted 4. stipulates- to make and express demand or arrangement as a condition of agreement 5. menaced- somethingthat threatenstocause evil, harm, injury, threaten
4/10/11 Entry #6 pages covered: 36-40 Chpt: Farewell, Old Mr. Stern
Summary The town crier announces that Jews are now forbidden under penalty of immediate arrest to have intercourse of any kid with Christians. Jews are forbidden under penalty of immediate arrest to greet, acknowledge greeting from, speak to, correspond with, deliver to, or receive objects from Christians. Christians are enjoined to observe the same. Jews are forbidden under penalty of immediate arrest to enter public places. Christians an rejoined to inform on any Jew seen entering the aforementioned places" Elli doesn't think her neighbors and friends would do that, but they did. Eight days later another announcement. The one they dreaded most. All Jews in Somorja are to be removed and sent to the concentrated ghetto. They start to pack. They visit her grandparents graves before they leave. As they ride away with an officer she watches her birthplace disappear.. she asks herself.. Will she ever see it again?
Vocabulary
1. laden- burdened; loaded down. 2. audible- capable of being heard; loud enough to be heard; actually heard. 3. hodgepodge- a heterogeneous mixture, jumble 4. gentile- of or pertaining to any people not Jewish 5. desolation- and act or instance of desolating
4/11/11
Entry #7
Pages covered: 41-48
Chpt; The Ghetto
Summary
Elli and her family reach the Nagymagyar ghetto. They are given a little apartment with only 2 rooms, and they live with one other family. Her Aunt Serena joins them in the ghetto. People live with 5 families in one small room, out on the yard,toolsheds, cellars, stairwells, storage rooms, or even in the synagogue. Elli and her family live with the Blumenfelds. Most of the activities occur on the yard, cooking, bathing, and playing. Elli learns to like the ghetto. Shes met many people, girls her age, and good-looking boys. She likes the toilet line best, it gives her time to talk to others and meet people. Elli has fallen in love again. His name is Pinhas. She notices him watching her, she now looks for him and they smile at each other; she waits for the day they get to talk. Her aunt use to be happy but now she is depressed and never happy. Shes worried about her.
Vocabulary
1. protruding- to thrust forward; cause to project
2. relish- liking or enjoymentof the tasteof something 3. internment- the act or ceremony of interring;burial
4/11/11 Entry #8 pages covered: 49-52 Chpt: A Miracle
Summary Mother says shes happy there taking them to a concentration camp, their food is almost gone. At least they feed us for our work there she says. They use up the last of their scraps. Then there is a commotion and the gate. Its a women. Shes arguing with a young soldier. Elli has talked to this soldier before, hes nice and caring. Elli catches a glance at the women, she knows her. Its her best friend's mom back in Somorja. The mother and Elli's best friend have been looking for Elli. They catch up and then the mother asks the guard if she can give Elli flour and a goose. The young soldier tells them to doing it fast and let no one see. They depart.
Vocabulary 1. buxom- a women, healthy, plump, cheerful and lively 2. unceremoniously- discourteously abrupt; hasty; rude 3. chargin- afeelingof vexation,marked by disappointmentor humiliation.
4/15/11 Entry #9 pages covered: 53-56 Chpt: Daddy, How Could You Leave Me?
Summary Boys are being called out to go to labor camps. Elli's father is chosen because he is the right age. Elli knows she'll reunite with her father. She tells him that he must say Goodbye to her in the morning. When she wakes up she flies out of bed. All she sees is her mother. She relizes that her father has left without saying goodbye to her. Shes devistated!! How could he leave her? Then everything people have that are valuable such as pictures, letters, and poems was taken by the guards and was burned in a huge bon fire. Elli asks if she can keep her poems... then she sides against it and sneaks it under her shirt. The ashes make her sick. She throws up many times. She feels bad people had to give up there pictures and she snuck her poems in.
Vocabulary 1. summons- a request, demand, or call to do something 2. foreknowledge- knowledgeof something beforeitexists or happens 3. beckoned- tosignal,summon, or direct byagestureof the head or hand. 4. cacophony- harsh discordance of sound; dissonance
4/20/11 Entry #10 pages covered:57-80 Chpts: Oh, God, I don't Want to Die!; Auschwitz; and Arbeit Macht Frie
Summary Elli, her mother, Bumbi, and Aunt Serena have to carry all their possessions on their backs in backpacks. Elli was having trouble caring hers Aunt Serena says she'll help but shes weak and gentile. Aunt Serena was Elli's special friend, they had little things they would do together, like drink tea. Liquidation was soon the gossip in the Ghetto, at 5 A.M Sunday the ghetto will be liquidated. Aunt Serena had a melt down and had a hard time giving up her stuff, she broke glasses so the germans would be able to have them. On Sunday they get ready for deportation. Elli sees the young officer she's met before. She sits by him on the wagon and they have a conversation. He asks her if shes afraid. Then she asks him the biggest question. "Will you keep my poems..?" she asks. He is worried someone will see so they sneak the poems in his duffel bag. He says he will keep them safe and when she is freed he'll give them back. Then Bumbi realizes that they are being handed over to the Germans. They are forced to give up everything. Then they are put in a cattle car. She prays to God, she doesn't want to die. During the 4th night the train comes to a stop. They are shoved out of the car without any belongings. She forgets her rain coat. Its cold and damp out. They are soon forced to get in two lines. A man comes up to Elli and touches her hair. He says something in German. "Golden Hair" he says. He asks if she is Jewish, she tells him yes. He asks her age and she says she is 13. He tells her to tell people she is older.Then he asks if this (points to her mother) is her mother and she replies yes. He tells them to get in a different line. Aunt Serena is forced into the opposite line. That was the last time Elli ever saw her Aunt Serena. As they march in the camp they come to the sign Arbeit Macht Frie, Work Sets You Free. Maybe mother was right saying that now they would be treated as humans and work. The line comes to a halt. An SS officer asks anyone in the group if they know German, Elli raises her hand. She does know German. The SS asks Elli and a couple other girls to translate what he is saying. They are forced to take all there clothes off or else they will be shot. She couldn't believe she had to get naked.. in front of guys? She left her bra on. Then she heard a shot and quickly took that off. Then they were led to a building where everyones hair would be shaved off. After that they had to stand in role call for hours. She realizes she is now part of the large club, prisoners of Auschwitz.
Vocabulary 1.incessant-continuingwithout interruption; unending 2.asylum-aninstitution for the maintenance and care of the mentallyill,orphans,orother personsrequiringspecializedassistance
3.din-aninstitution for the maintenance and care of the mentallyill,orphans,orother personsrequiringspecializedassistance
4.flanking- forcing back and forth
5. forlorn-desolateordreary;unhappy or miserable, as in feeling,condition, or appearance
4/28/11
Entry #11
pages covered: 81-120
Chpts: Born in The Showers - The Tattoo
Summary
They are marched into Auschwitz and taken to the showers they got little time to bathe. After the fourth day Elli finally saw herself in a glass window. Then one day they are all forced to go back to the train cars. Maybe there being set free, liberated. Then when they were let out of the cars a big sign that read Krakow. They are in Camp Plaszow. While they are there more and more people come. One day at work there is a heavy down pour (rain) and it makes it very hard to work, so they all go to shelter under a barrack. That is Sabotage. Ever tenth person will be shot tomorrow at dawn. They stay up all right reciting Jewish prayers and hymns. Then at dawn they line up, but they return to work like its just another day. No one was killed. Rumors start saying that Hitler is dead.
Vocabulary
1. gesticulate-tomake or usegestures, especially inananimatedorexcited manner with or instead of speech 2.carnage-the slaughter of a greatnumber of people as in battle;butchery; massacre 3.avail-to be of use or value to; profit; advantage 4.lethargic -of, pertaining to, or affected with lethargy; drowsy;sluggish
5/11/11 Entry #14 Pages covered: 128-190 Chpts: Is It True About The Showers-Its an American Plane!
Summary There are rumors about the tall towers that stand above the trees. its said its where they burn the bodies... is that true?? They are taken to a diff area.. Lodz. When its time for aother selection Elli's mom was called to a diff line than Elli, the line for the crematorium. Elli pleads to the guards, they check her mother out and agree that she can work a little while longer. They only spent a little while there until they were loaded up once again and forced to pack 100 to a boxcar. They ride for a couple days then all of a sudden they see red cross vans. They've been freed!!! They are given food and drink. Then rapid machine guns are fired!! It was a set up. Almost everyone was either badly hurt or dead. Bubi is shot. Then they are loaded back on the train if they were still alive. The bottom of the car was covered with blood. Then back to a concentration camp. How long could they last!?
5/12/11 Entry #15
Summary They stay at the concentration camp for a while after that. Bumbi and her mother get worse and worse. Elli is worried about them! Then they are loaded once again loaded onto another train. Where to now? They travel for 5 days without food or water. How long can a person last? Elli thinks to herself. Then they stop. They spend a day just sitting. Staying still was a bad thing, because movement ment you were living. Then the boxcar door flies open. Its another prisoner, he tells them the best news to come...THERE FREE!!! It wasnt a trick this time. There are American soldiers all over the place. They arrived by a little town with lots of fields of corn. Elli wants to run down to the town with her mother but she refuses to leave without Bubi; so Elli and her mother walk miles looking inside boxcar after boxcar... then after they lost all hope, they see bubi!! hes alive. They have made it! :)
Entry #1
Pages covered: 8-11 Chpt. FOREWARD
Summary
On April 30, 1995 Elli Friedmann returns to Germany- fifty years later. She was in Seeshaupt that very day fifty years ago when the American army had liberated me. Some of the leading people in Seeshaupt had decided to commemorate the event. The former mayor's son saw the human sufferering of the jews, corpus' disfigured. He is now a doctor, and when his patients, people of the post-war generation, dont believe what he says he saw he decided to bring back survivors of the liberation as proof to show that what he says really did happen. Eighteen survivors arrived for the ceremony. The survivors who had returned to Seeshaupt thought of the liberation. Ellie slipps out of the hall and goes to the train station she walks to the tracks thinking about what she went through. Then a women interrupts her train of thought, " There are no more trains today" she said but, Ellie wasn't waiting for a train she just wanted to go back. She walks back to the beer hall, one of the committee members asks Ellie what message do you have for us? Ellie was only 14 when the war ended. Her message is clearly this: Never Give Up.
Vocabulary
post-war: happening or existing after a war
translucent: permitting light to pass through but diffusing it so that persons, objects, etc. are not visible on the other side.
opaque: not transparent or translucent
maimed: to deprive of the use of some body part by wounding
indelible: making marks that cannot be erased or removed
4/4/11
Entry #2
Pages covered: 12-21
Chapter: The City of My Dreams
Somorja, Summer1943- March 1944
Summary
Elli's dream is going to a prep school in Budapest, the capital city. In her small farming town, at the edge of th Carpathian foothills. To the west the rolling hills
in the south the Danube River. People come to the Danube to cool off, picnic by it, even the soldiers come to cool off in the Danube. Elli's friend Bonnie's mother wraps her in her arms and always says, " meine Schonheit," which means my beauty. Elli's mother never shows her affection, she believes that cuddling makes you soft and she thinks if you cuddle if doesn't prepare you for life's difficulties. Her mother favors her sister and brother. . Her brother, Bumbi, already goes to school in Budapest. February 28 is Elli's birthday. She immediately writes an application for the Jewish Preparatory School in Budapest. At 2:30 in the morning a knock comes from the door. The Hungarian police are back, the search for concealed weapons. They take what ever they want. Then later Bumbi shows up, he came home with horrible and terrifying news. The Nazi's invaded Budapest. Her father tells him that it must have been a rally they couldn't have invaded with no writing in the paper or information on the radio. He convinces Bumbi to get on the 1 P.M. train and go back to Budapest. He leaves then when her father looks at the paper it reads WE ARE LIBERATED! HITLERS GLORIOUS ARMY IS IN BUDAPEST! News says that they arrested jews in Budapest. Then her father cannot stand waiting to hear from Bumbi he gets the idea to go to Budapest to get Bumbi. But before he leaves Bumbi arrives in the middle of the night. Budapest, the city of her dreams, has now become the anteroom of Auschwitz.
Vocabulary
1. metropolis- any large, busy city
2. Sabboth- the seventh day of the week, Saturday, the day of rest and religious observance among Jews and some Christian
3. summons- an authoritative command, message, or signal by which oneis summoned.
4. razzias- a plundering raid
5. tremor- involuntary shaking of the body or limbs, from disease, fear, weakness, or excitement; a fit of trembling
4/5/11
Entry #3
pages covered:22-24
Chpt: "Hey, Jew Girl, Jew Girl..."
Summary
Elli's school closes on Saturday, March 25th, 1944. Six days have passed since the Germans invaded. She asks herself, "will I ever again sit behind this narrow dest furrowed by a thousand pencil marks? will i ever again share secrets and moments of hilarity with my classmates?"
Elli has a crush on a boy named Jancsi Novak. She goes out the main entrance because he maybe leaving too. As she turns the hallway and arm reaches out and blocks her way. It wasnt Novak is was an ugly boy who raises his arm in the Nazi salute and says: "Heil Hitler!" Then a bunch of other boys join in chanting Heil Hitler. Elli runs down the hall way and they chant at her Down with the Jews! down with the Jews! Down with the Jews!! She goes down the stairs and out to the street, behind, her school mates yell the army marching song. THis hits Elli hard and she cries and cries.
Vocabulary
1. furrowed- a narrow groovelike or trenchlike depression in any surface.
2. convulsive- to shake or agitate violently
4/6/11
Entry #4
pages covered: 25-28
Chpt: The Tale of the Yellow Bicycle
Summary
Elli and her family are now in the hands of the SS. They begin the process of "liquidation." On a Monday morning in March, all Jews are supposed to appear at the town hall to be registered. They line up to be counted and given tags. They are forced to give up all their valuables- jewelry, radios, and vehicles. Elli has to give away her birthday gift from her parents; a yellow Schwinn bicycle. Her bike is her only real possession. It is bright yellow, with red and yellow webbing on the back wheel. It has a dark-yellow leather seat and shiny handlebars. As Elli has to give up her bike she breaks down, she doesn't want to part with it!! she feels violated. She cries all the way home. Her father brings her down to the cellar to show her a spot he secretly placed their most precious possessions. "We dont know which one of us will return, Will you remember this spot?" he says to her. She doesn't look. she wants her family to stay together!!
Vocabulary
1. erect- upright in position or posture
2. lackluster- lacking brilliance or radiance
3. degradation-act of degrading
4. convulsive-spasms
4/6/11
Entry #5
pages covered: 29-36
Chpt: The Tale of the Yellow Star
Summary
The street crier wakes Elli up. Lately he has only brought bad news to them. This morning she heard, " Hear ye! Hear ye! As of 8 a.m. this Tuesday morning all of the Jews must wear a yellow star on the left side of their chest. The star must be of canary-yellow fabric, eight centimeters in diameter, with exactly six points. If a Jew is spotted without this star will be arrested! Also any main entrance into a Jewish residents will have a six-pointed star painted on the left wall. If residence does not have this mark the people who own this place will be arrested! Elli's brother acts as if the star he has to wear is some sort of medal. Soon other young boys act like this. Elli feels this is a way to humiliate the Jews. Then Elli gets a letter in the mail, its her diploma. There will be a class graduation and reunion. Shes thrilled. Then she remembers the boys, their chanting. She hangs her coat back on. Her brother calls her a coward. She decides to go anyways. She takes her coat off right when she enters her school. After the diplomas are handed out as Elli is walking out she gets touched by some one, its Jancsi Novak. He acts like he didnt even see the star on her coat. They have a conversation congratulating each other.
Vocabulary
1. visage-the face, usually with reference to shape, features, expression, etc.
2.muslin-a cotton fabric made in various degrees of fineness and often printed, woven, or embroidered in patterns, especially a cottonfabric of plain weave, used for sheets and for a variety of otherpurposes.
3. valiant- boldly courageous; brave; stout-hearted
4. stipulates- to make and express demand or arrangement as a condition of agreement
5. menaced- something that threatens to cause evil, harm, injury, threaten
4/10/11
Entry #6
pages covered: 36-40
Chpt: Farewell, Old Mr. Stern
Summary
The town crier announces that Jews are now forbidden under penalty of immediate arrest to have intercourse of any kid with Christians. Jews are forbidden under penalty of immediate arrest to greet, acknowledge greeting from, speak to, correspond with, deliver to, or receive objects from Christians. Christians are enjoined to observe the same. Jews are forbidden under penalty of immediate arrest to enter public places. Christians an rejoined to inform on any Jew seen entering the aforementioned places" Elli doesn't think her neighbors and friends would do that, but they did. Eight days later another announcement. The one they dreaded most. All Jews in Somorja are to be removed and sent to the concentrated ghetto. They start to pack. They visit her grandparents graves before they leave. As they ride away with an officer she watches her birthplace disappear.. she asks herself.. Will she ever see it again?
Vocabulary
1. laden- burdened; loaded down.
2. audible- capable of being heard; loud enough to be heard; actually heard.
3. hodgepodge- a heterogeneous mixture, jumble
4. gentile- of or pertaining to any people not Jewish
5. desolation- and act or instance of desolating
4/11/11
Entry #7
Pages covered: 41-48
Chpt; The Ghetto
Summary
Elli and her family reach the Nagymagyar ghetto. They are given a little apartment with only 2 rooms, and they live with one other family. Her Aunt Serena joins them in the ghetto. People live with 5 families in one small room, out on the yard,toolsheds, cellars, stairwells, storage rooms, or even in the synagogue. Elli and her family live with the Blumenfelds. Most of the activities occur on the yard, cooking, bathing, and playing. Elli learns to like the ghetto. Shes met many people, girls her age, and good-looking boys. She likes the toilet line best, it gives her time to talk to others and meet people. Elli has fallen in love again. His name is Pinhas. She notices him watching her, she now looks for him and they smile at each other; she waits for the day they get to talk. Her aunt use to be happy but now she is depressed and never happy. Shes worried about her.
Vocabulary
1. protruding- to thrust forward; cause to project
2. relish- liking or enjoyment of the taste of something
3. internment- the act or ceremony of interring; burial
4/11/11
Entry #8
pages covered: 49-52
Chpt: A Miracle
Summary
Mother says shes happy there taking them to a concentration camp, their food is almost gone. At least they feed us for our work there she says. They use up the last of their scraps. Then there is a commotion and the gate. Its a women. Shes arguing with a young soldier. Elli has talked to this soldier before, hes nice and caring. Elli catches a glance at the women, she knows her. Its her best friend's mom back in Somorja. The mother and Elli's best friend have been looking for Elli. They catch up and then the mother asks the guard if she can give Elli flour and a goose. The young soldier tells them to doing it fast and let no one see. They depart.
Vocabulary
1. buxom- a women, healthy, plump, cheerful and lively
2. unceremoniously- discourteously abrupt; hasty; rude
3. chargin- a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation.
4/15/11
Entry #9
pages covered: 53-56
Chpt: Daddy, How Could You Leave Me?
Summary
Boys are being called out to go to labor camps. Elli's father is chosen because he is the right age. Elli knows she'll reunite with her father. She tells him that he must say Goodbye to her in the morning. When she wakes up she flies out of bed. All she sees is her mother. She relizes that her father has left without saying goodbye to her. Shes devistated!! How could he leave her? Then everything people have that are valuable such as pictures, letters, and poems was taken by the guards and was burned in a huge bon fire. Elli asks if she can keep her poems... then she sides against it and sneaks it under her shirt. The ashes make her sick. She throws up many times. She feels bad people had to give up there pictures and she snuck her poems in.
Vocabulary
1. summons- a request, demand, or call to do something
2. foreknowledge- knowledge of something before it exists or happens
3. beckoned- to signal, summon, or direct by a gesture of the head or hand.
4. cacophony- harsh discordance of sound; dissonance
4/20/11
Entry #10
pages covered:57-80
Chpts: Oh, God, I don't Want to Die!; Auschwitz; and Arbeit Macht Frie
Summary
Elli, her mother, Bumbi, and Aunt Serena have to carry all their possessions on their backs in backpacks. Elli was having trouble caring hers Aunt Serena says she'll help but shes weak and gentile. Aunt Serena was Elli's special friend, they had little things they would do together, like drink tea. Liquidation was soon the gossip in the Ghetto, at 5 A.M Sunday the ghetto will be liquidated. Aunt Serena had a melt down and had a hard time giving up her stuff, she broke glasses so the germans would be able to have them. On Sunday they get ready for deportation. Elli sees the young officer she's met before. She sits by him on the wagon and they have a conversation. He asks her if shes afraid. Then she asks him the biggest question. "Will you keep my poems..?" she asks. He is worried someone will see so they sneak the poems in his duffel bag. He says he will keep them safe and when she is freed he'll give them back. Then Bumbi realizes that they are being handed over to the Germans. They are forced to give up everything. Then they are put in a cattle car. She prays to God, she doesn't want to die. During the 4th night the train comes to a stop. They are shoved out of the car without any belongings. She forgets her rain coat. Its cold and damp out. They are soon forced to get in two lines. A man comes up to Elli and touches her hair. He says something in German. "Golden Hair" he says. He asks if she is Jewish, she tells him yes. He asks her age and she says she is 13. He tells her to tell people she is older.Then he asks if this (points to her mother) is her mother and she replies yes. He tells them to get in a different line. Aunt Serena is forced into the opposite line. That was the last time Elli ever saw her Aunt Serena. As they march in the camp they come to the sign Arbeit Macht Frie, Work Sets You Free. Maybe mother was right saying that now they would be treated as humans and work. The line comes to a halt. An SS officer asks anyone in the group if they know German, Elli raises her hand. She does know German. The SS asks Elli and a couple other girls to translate what he is saying. They are forced to take all there clothes off or else they will be shot. She couldn't believe she had to get naked.. in front of guys? She left her bra on. Then she heard a shot and quickly took that off. Then they were led to a building where everyones hair would be shaved off. After that they had to stand in role call for hours. She realizes she is now part of the large club, prisoners of Auschwitz.
Vocabulary
1.incessant-continuing without interruption; unending
2.asylum-an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiringspecialized assistance
3.din-an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiringspecialized assistance
4.flanking- forcing back and forth
5. forlorn-desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling,condition, or appearance
Chpt 13
vocab: adomish; acclimatize
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4/28/11
Entry #11
pages covered: 81-120
Chpts: Born in The Showers - The Tattoo
Summary
They are marched into Auschwitz and taken to the showers they got little time to bathe. After the fourth day Elli finally saw herself in a glass window. Then one day they are all forced to go back to the train cars. Maybe there being set free, liberated. Then when they were let out of the cars a big sign that read Krakow. They are in Camp Plaszow. While they are there more and more people come. One day at work there is a heavy down pour (rain) and it makes it very hard to work, so they all go to shelter under a barrack. That is Sabotage. Ever tenth person will be shot tomorrow at dawn. They stay up all right reciting Jewish prayers and hymns. Then at dawn they line up, but they return to work like its just another day. No one was killed. Rumors start saying that Hitler is dead.
Vocabulary
1. gesticulate-to make or use gestures, especially in an animated orexcited manner with or instead of speech
2.carnage- the slaughter of a great number of people as in battle;butchery; massacre
3.avail-to be of use or value to; profit; advantage
4.lethargic -of, pertaining to, or affected with lethargy; drowsy;sluggish
5/11/11
Entry #14
Pages covered: 128-190
Chpts: Is It True About The Showers-Its an American Plane!
Summary
There are rumors about the tall towers that stand above the trees. its said its where they burn the bodies... is that true?? They are taken to a diff area.. Lodz. When its time for aother selection Elli's mom was called to a diff line than Elli, the line for the crematorium. Elli pleads to the guards, they check her mother out and agree that she can work a little while longer. They only spent a little while there until they were loaded up once again and forced to pack 100 to a boxcar. They ride for a couple days then all of a sudden they see red cross vans. They've been freed!!! They are given food and drink. Then rapid machine guns are fired!! It was a set up. Almost everyone was either badly hurt or dead. Bubi is shot. Then they are loaded back on the train if they were still alive. The bottom of the car was covered with blood. Then back to a concentration camp. How long could they last!?
5/12/11
Entry #15
Summary
They stay at the concentration camp for a while after that. Bumbi and her mother get worse and worse. Elli is worried about them! Then they are loaded once again loaded onto another train. Where to now? They travel for 5 days without food or water. How long can a person last? Elli thinks to herself. Then they stop. They spend a day just sitting. Staying still was a bad thing, because movement ment you were living. Then the boxcar door flies open. Its another prisoner, he tells them the best news to come...THERE FREE!!! It wasnt a trick this time. There are American soldiers all over the place. They arrived by a little town with lots of fields of corn. Elli wants to run down to the town with her mother but she refuses to leave without Bubi; so Elli and her mother walk miles looking inside boxcar after boxcar... then after they lost all hope, they see bubi!! hes alive. They have made it! :)